December 2024 Cultural Recognitions & Observances

December’s cultural recognitions and observances include Inclusive Schools Week and National Special Education Day, both of which align with the Alexandria City Public Schools Strategic Plan and support Equity for All. Here is a list of observances marked in December.

• Beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott — Dec. 1: On this date in 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a White passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. Her consequent arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott on December 5, which brought Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence. Parks became known as the "mother of the civil rights movement."
• National Special Education Day — Dec. 2:  This day marks the signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act into law. It is an opportunity to celebrate this important milestone as well as recommit ourselves to serving special education students.
• Inclusive Schools Week — Dec. 2-6, 2024: First observed in 2001, Inclusive Schools Week celebrates schools for educating all children while looking ahead at further progress to support an increasingly diverse population. The 2024 theme, “Every Voice Matters,” echoes the fundamental belief that every individual has a unique perspective and contributes to the rich tapestry of our school communities.
• Human Rights Day — Dec. 10: Observed on this date each year as the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
• Bill of Rights Day — Dec. 15: Anniversary of the adoption of the first ten amendments to the U.S. constitution in 1791. Often marked by a presidential proclamation.
• First Day of Winter — Dec. 21: Astronomical winter in the northern hemisphere begins on Dec. 21, 2024 and ends on March 20, 2025.

Be sure to check out our new ACPS webpage for additional information on our monthly cultural recognitions and observances highlighted within our schools.